KINGSTON, Ont. (March 25, 2014) – Claragh Pegg (Barrie, Ont.) of the women's rugby team and Liam Underwood (Toronto) of the men's rugby team were named the top student-athletes for the 2013-14 season at the 78th annual Colour Awards Varsity Team athletic banquet Tuesday night at the ARC Main Gym.

Pegg, this year's PHE '55 Alumnae Award winner, has helped to transform the women's rugby team into a perennial powerhouse in Canada. This year she captured her first OUA Championship and added a CIS bronze at the national championship in Quebec City.

The fourth year kinesiology student, who plays prop for the Gaels, was named an All-Canadian once, is a two-time CIS Championship All-Star, three-time OUA All-Star and has two OUA silver medals and one OUA bronze medal to go along with her championship gold this year. A captain for the past two years she was also an academic All-Canadian and team MVP in 2012 along with being named the team rookie of the year in 2010. This past summer she also received her first cap as a member of the Canadian national senior women's rugby team.

Underwood was awarded the Jenkins Trophy as the top male senior student-athlete. A two-time OUA All-Star, OUA leading scorer in 2011, OUA Rookie of the Year in 2009 and the co-winner of the Outstanding Performance of the Year at last year's colour awards banquet, Underwood is one of the most decorated athletes to don the tricolour for Queen's. To go along with his individual accomplishments he was also a member of the Gaels OUA Championship seasons in 2013, 2012 and 2009 while taking a silver and bronze as well.

During this time, Underwood has excelled on the national and international stages as well. He has competed for the Canadian men's national rugby team where he made seven appearances in 2013 alone and also won national men's rugby titles on three separate occasions with the Ontario Blues. The Economics major is a calm leader for the Gaels on and off the field who leaves behind a perfect record at home in his career.

With a number of standout performances by individual athletes in 2013-14, the Outstanding Performance of the Year (OPY) honour was awarded to Julie-Anne Staehli (Lucknow, Ont.) of women's cross country and track.

Staehli had a spectacular season for both the Gaels cross country and track teams this season in both the OUA and CIS. She claimed a gold, silver and bronze in OUA competition and added two gold medal performances at CIS Championships. This included a first place finish in cross country where she was named the CIS athlete of the year in her sport. This performance helped the women's team claim a CIS bronze medal, their first podium finish in 10 years.

A truly remarkable athlete in only her second year of competition, Staehli has represented her school and also got the chance to represent her country at the 2014 FISU Cross Country Championships in Uganda. Staehli once again led the way pacing the team to a bronze medal with the top time for a Canadian in 7th place.

The Alfie Pierce Trophy recipients for top male and female rookie of the year were Karley Heyman (Harrowsmith, Ont.) from women's rugby and Kevin Bailie (Belleville, Ont.) from men's hockey.

Heyman played a large role for a veteran Gaels squad that won their first OUA Championship title in program history and went on to take a bronze at nationals.  She was named an OUA All-Star in just her first season after finishing second in rookie scoring in the OUA regular season and playoffs. She helped put the Gaels ahead in their national championship bronze medal game with a try against Laval and was also a member of team Ontario who won the U20 national championship last summer.

Bailie, this year's CIS Rookie of the Year and CIS All-Rookie team member, helped lead the Gaels to a program best 17 win season. He was honoured as the OUA East MVP, Rookie of the Year and Top Goaltender while being named an OUA East All-Star and OUA All-Rookie. Bailie finished the season with a 1.98 GAA and 0.934 save percentage ranking him third and second in the CIS respectively. There is no doubt that Bailie was one of the main reasons for the Gaels resurgence this season.

The Jim Tait Trophy, is presented annually to the top performing Varsity Team. The award was presented Tuesday night to the CIS bronze medal and OUA Champion women's rugby team.

After falling to Guelph in the OUA Championship last year the Gaels once again met their rivals in the OUA Championship after finishing with a perfect 5-0 record to take the Russell division. In the championship game the Gaels hung on for a 19-15 win to end the Gryphons OUA title streak of five and win streak against OUA teams at 48.

Queen's then advanced to the CIS Championships where they defeated Laval 19-17 before losing to Alberta in the semifinal. In the bronze medal game Queen's was once again at their best taking down Laval 32-24 to claim a bronze medal.

The team was led by All-Canadians Pegg and Lauren McEwen while they, along with three others, were named OUA All-Stars. McEwen was also named the Russell Division Player of the year after leading the Gaels in points.

In addition to their success on the field, the Women's Rugby team excels off the field as well. They have 11 academic All-Canadians, are highly involved in community initiatives through high school rugby clinics as well as volunteering with Go Girls and other programs like Kaleidoscope.

New this season the Varsity Support Service Awards were presented to recognize the individuals who have demonstrated dedication and leadership while making a significant contribution to the success of the Queen's Varsity Sport Program in Athletic Therapy (Hal Dunlop Shield), Athlete Services, Home Events and Strength and Conditioning. This year's winners were Hannah Davis, Meredith Raddysh, Janell Klassen and Sam Sabourin respectively.

On Tuesday, Queen's Athletics and Recreation honoured its top athletes in the Varsity Club stream. Anna Rogers (Calgary) of Women's Fencing and Brad Parsons (Warsaw, Ont.) of both Cycling and Nordic, claimed the top senior student-athlete awards while Cycling earned Varsity Club of the Year.  Lily Jiang (Edmonton) of Women's Fencing and Alex Wilkie (Almonte, Ont.) from Men's Track claimed rookie of the year awards.

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY TEAM AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2013-14
Jenkins Trophy: Liam Underwood (Men's Rugby)
PHE '55 Alumnae Award: Claragh Pegg (Women's Rugby)
Outstanding Performance of the Year (OPY): Julie-Anne Staehli (Cross Country/Track)
Jim Tait Trophy: Women's Rugby
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Kevin Bailie
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Karley Heyman
Support Services Awards:  Hannah Davis (Athletic Therapy), Meredith Raddysh (Athlete Services), Janell Klassen (Home Events) and Sam Sabourin (Strength and Conditioning)

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY CLUB AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2013-14
Marion Ross Trophy: Anna Rogers (Women's Fencing)
Jack Jarvis Trophy: Brad Parsons  (Nordic Skiing/Cycling)
Award of Merit Trophy: Cycling
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Lily Jiang (Women's Fencing)
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Alex Wilkie (Men's Track and Field)